Bicycle.



No. 634,099. y Patent-ed oct. 3, |399. w. n. SWEET.

BIGYGLE.

(Ap'plcltign Bled Jan. 7, 1898.;

(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

MW @y WS www@ THE Nonms nina co.. PHDTQUTML wsmxcncu. o. c.

Patnfed oct. :3, msm.v

w. M. vswan-:1.

' BICYCLE.

(Appiicstion ls-ci Jnn. 7, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet y2.

lo Modal.)

@PATENT OFFICE.

WILLiAM M. SWEET, on DARLINo'roN, WISCONSIN.

l BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming pair of Letters Patent No. 634,098, dated centery e', 1,899.

Applioatiouiled January '7, 1 898. Serial No. 665,966. (No modelo This invention relates to handle-bars for` bicycles, velocipedes, and the'V like, and has for its purpose to obviate'jar and jolt to the hands and arms of thel rider, enable the grips to be raised or lowered and the handle-bar to be elevated or depressed to snit the convenience of the rider, to combine With the handlebara brake mechanism which can be instantly set by pressure upon the grips in a proper di-g rection, and to disposea bell or alarm so that a movement of the handle-har will give warn-.j

ing simultaneously with the application of the brake, the partsrbeing combined for con-l joint or individual use, as required.

' The invention also has for itspurpose to locate the brake and spring connections Within the stems of the fork and handle-bar, so as to benut of the Way and hidden from View,

thereby not detracting from the appearance.

of the machine or rendering itnecessary to clean the train of connections, which would be required if the same were exposed. Moreover, external bearings and connections are avoided, thereby enabling the machine to be' cleanedfwithout great eiort or annoyance.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description. p

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minordetails of construction Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any/ofthe advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invent-ion au adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 isa front view of the forward portion of a bicycle, showing the application of the invention, thelower part of the forked sides and the front wheel being brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a vertical` central longitudinal section showing the relation of the pa'rts'when the brake is out ot' action. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the'disposition of the parts when thep'brake is set'. Fig. 4 is l a transverse section of the handle-bar stein and a longitudinal section 'of the head-lug, the shaft journaled therein, and the inner ends of the handle-bar-sections.- Fig. 5 is a detail View, in plan elevation, showing the means for operating the bell. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the instrumentalities for connecting the stem of the brake-'shoe With its operating-rod whereby the movement is multiplied. Fig. 7 is a deiail'view of the plug which is secured within the fork-stein and to which the vhorizontal levers are fulcrumed. Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation ofthe shaft.

Fifi. 9 is a longitudinal section of the inner end of a handle-bar section.

Corresponding and llikeparts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the -views of the'drawings by the same reference-characters.

The .head-tube 1 may be -ot any construction and disposition, according to the style and variety of machine to which the invention is applied, and receives the fork-stem 2, which is journaled therein, and has connection with the handle-bar, so as to enable the proper steering of the machine Vwhen the latter is propelled over the road. The fork-stem carries a-fork 3 at its lower end of any pattern, and the front or pilot Wheel 4 is journaled thereto in the usual Way; The handlebar. stem 5 is adjustably connected with the upper end of-the fork-stein by means of a clamp 6 in the ordinary manner, the handlebar being raised orl lowered after the clamp is'loosened in a manner presently to be described. I

A shaft 7 is journaled within the horizontal portion of the head-lug 8 and is provided with threaded portions 9 at each side of the head-lug and milled,'corrugated, or roughened portions 10. The handle-bar is composed of similar sections 11, vwhich -havetheir inner ends split andinternally corrugated, milled, or roughened, as shown at 12,130 match the corresponding milled portions 10 of the shaft '7, and these sections are externally threaded, as shown at 13, and-receive 'clamp-nuts 14, by means of which the handle-bar sections are firmly secured to the shaft 7 in an adjusted position, the inner ends of the clampnnt making screw -thread connection with the threaded portions 9 of the shaft 7, so as TOO o to retain the said handle-bar scctions'in place.

- nut previously loosened.

` openings injthehead-lug and stem.

A bell is clampedor otherwisesecured to the handle-bar at one side of thehead-lug S, and the lever 16 for actuating the clapper has an end portion projecting through an opening or slot in a side of the bell and eX- tending within the path of a stop or trip 17,

provided on the head-lug. Thisbell may be f of any of the varieties operated by pressing upon the projecting ends of the lever. being remembered that the handle-bar is mounted to turn in the head-lug and that the projectingend ofthe lever 16 extends across the path of the stop 17 in order to sound an alarm, it is only necessary to turn the handlebar to bring the projecting end etr the lever 16 into forcible contact with the stop or trip r17, when the bell will be sounded. By turning the handle-bar backward `and forward the bell can be operated as often as desired. Ther head-lug 8 has detachable connection with the upper end of the handle-barstem 5',k

preferably by making screw-thread connection therewith, and when in position it is prevented from relative movement by meansof a screw 18 passing through corresponding An anproximately triangular-shaped plate or bellcrank lever 19 is pivotc'd within the upper end of the handle-bar stem and is connected by a link 2O with the upper end of a rod 2l, loosely mounted in the stem 5, so as to reciprocate therein. The lower end of the rod 21 is threaded and receives a nut 22 and a washer 23. A spring 24 is mounted upon the rod 21 and is conined between the nut 22 and the upper portion of the stem 5, so as to exert a downward pressure upon the said rod 2l, the tension of the spring being regulated by adjusting the nut 22 to the required position.

Ashort rod 25 is tted'into openings formed .in the shaft 7 at diametrically opposite points and in line with the central portion of the stem 5 and is held in place by a key 26, passing transversely through a slot formed therein. The lower end of the rod 25 is hooked and engages with a link 27, which is pivotally attached to the plate or bell-crank lever 19 opposite the link 20. This rod 25 is held centrally of the vertical portion of the head-lug S by means of a shoulder or stop 28 engaging therewith, the portion of the head-lug opposite the stop 2S being cut away, so as to enable the lower end of the rod 25 to move forward when turning the handle-bar to set the brake or sound the alarm, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The downward pressure upon the rod 21caused by means ofthe spring 24, imparts a rearward and downward pull upon the rod 25 by means of the intermediate connections 19, 20, and 27. lVhen riding over rough ground or uneven surfaces, the vibration and jar commonly experienced when the handle-bar is `rigid kare compensated for by means of the spring 24, therebycausing the rider to experience less fatigue and inconveniencewhenmakiug long rides The brake-shoe 29 is attached to the lower end of a rod 30, slidably mounted in the torkstem and crown, and links31, upwardly divergent, connect the upper end of the rod 30 'd with the long arms of horizontal levers 32,

which are placedin parallel relation and are pivoted near one end to the fork-stem. Other links 33, upwardly convergent, connect the short arms ofthe horizontal levers 32 with a j j stem 341, which has'adjustable connectionL with thefrod 2l, so as to admit of the handlebar being raised or lowered as required.k A tube is secured to the lower end ofthe rod 21 and is internally threaded to receive the 8okk externally-threaded stem 34, and the lower t end of this tube is providedwith a laring flange 36, which forms a guide tocentralize the tube 35-within the stem 2 and to properly position the stem 34E when assembling the parts,-the upper-end of the stem 34: being pointed, soas to enter the 11a-ring flange 36 and be directed thereby into the ythreaded portion of the tube. lVhen the kclamp 6 is loosened, the handle-bar and its kstem can be rotated forwarder backward to lengthen or shorten the connections between the brakeshoe 29 and handle-bar, thereby admitting of rthe latterbeing moved to the required elevation, and when positioned ka retighteningof the clamp 6 secures the parts.

The sets of links 31 and 33 constitute toggie-levers, and the provision of the horizontal levers 32 results in multiplying the movement of the rod 21, so that upon moving the rod 21 about one-eighth of an inch the rod 30 will receive'a movement of about one-half an inch, which will be ample for setting the brake and moving the shoe away from the wheel to a safe distance. An upward pull on the rod 21 will result in a downward 1novement of the rod 30 by reason of the disposition of the links 31 and 33 and the levers 32, and when the rod 21 moves downward the brake will be upset. Inasmuch as the spring 24 exerts a downward pressure upon the rod 21, it will be seen that under normal conditions the brake is held out of action by. positive means, and this same spring, as will be readily understood, compensates for all jar and jolt incident to passing over rough sur- Jfaces and prevents the transmission of the same to the hands and arms of the rider. When passing over rough roads, the slight vibration of the handle-bar incident to the taking up of the jar and jolt, by means of the spring 24, is imperceptible and not sufficient to sound the alarm or set the brake, and the parts are so proportioned and disposed that the handle-bar may be turned a short distance to sound the alarm without setting the brake. When it is required to apply the roo IOS

IIO

brake, the handle-bar is turned a sufficient distance to cause the brake-shoe to press against the tire on the `front wheel. When applying the brake, obviously the alarm will be simultaneously sounded, as during the rst part of the movement the bell will be rung, and a continued movement of the handle-bar' in the same direction will cause an application loi" the brake.

The horizontal levers .32 are fulcrumed to a plug 37, which is secured within the forkstem by means of a pin 3S or in any convenient and substantial manner, said plug being bifurcated to receive the levers 32 and the' connecting-links 3l. The upper end of the rod 30 is held in position and directed in its movements by passing through an opening in the lower end of the plug 37. j

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is l l. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination of a movably-mounted handle-bar having two successive stages of action, a brake, an alarm, and means operated by the handlebar on its first stage of action for sounding said alarm, and on its second stage of action for setting the brake, whereby said alarm can be sounded without setting the brake.

2. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination with the handle-bar stern, a head-lug applied to the upper end of the stem and having a vertical shoulder forming a stop, and a cut-away portion opposite 'said shoulder, av

handle-barv rotatably mounted in the horizontal portion of the head-lug inline with the stern and having a vertically-projecting part normally resting against the aforesaid shoulder and adapted to operate in the cut-away portion of the head-lug, a brake mechanism, a spring-actuated rod located in'the stem and operatively connected with the brake mechanism, and means connecting said rod with the lower end of said vertically-projecting.

part of the handle-bar, 'substantially as set forth.

3. In a bicycle or like machine,the combination of a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stem and having openings in its upper and lower sides in vertical line with the stem, a rod thrust into the said openings and having its lower end projecting vertically into the stem, a key concealed within the handie-bar and passing through a slot in the said rod, a rod located within the stem, `a spring exerting a downward pressure upon the lastmentioned rod, and connections between the contiguous ends of the rods, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination of a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stem and having a projecting part entering the said stem, a bell-crank lever pivoted within the upper end of the stem to one side of its axial center and having one member connected with the projecting part 'of the handle-bar, and a spring located in the stem and operatively connected with the other member of the bell-crank lever and exerting a downward pull thereon to hold the handlebar in a normal position and take up jar, substantially as described.

5.l In a bicycle or like machine, the combination of a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stem and having a downward projection entering the stem, abell-crank lever pivoted within the upper end of the stem to one side of its'axial center, a spring-actuated rod located within the stem, and 'links concealed within the stem and connecting the bell-crank lever respectively with the springactuated rod and the projection of the handlebar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination Aof a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stern and in vertical line therewith, a rod 25 detachably connected with the handle-bar and fitted into vertically-alining openings provided in the upper and lower sides thereof, and having its lower end portion extending vertically into the stem, a rod 21 arranged within the stem, a brake mechanisrn operatively connected with the said rod 2l, a spring located within the stem and surrounding the rod 2l and exertinga downward pressure thereon, and positive connections between the contiguous ends of the rods 2l' and .25, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination of a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference toits stem and in vertical line therewith, a vertically-arranged rod detachably connected 'with the handle-bar and fitted into openings formed in the sides thereof,l a key placed within the handle-bar and passing through a slot of the rod, a spring located in the stem, brake mechanism in position to be set by and on the turning of said handle-bar nation of a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stem and in line therewith and having a projection entering the stem, a second rod located within the stem of the handie, a spring exerting a downward pressure upon the said rod, and connecting means between the spring-actuated rod and handle-bar projection for changing the direct application of forceof the spring and apply it in a rearward and down ward direction to the said handle-bar projection, substantially as described.

9.- In a bicycle or like machine, the combination of a head-lug, a handle-bar mounted to turn in thehead-lug, a bell applied to one of the parts 'and having a projecting lever, a trip provided on the other part and adapted Vto engage with the projecting end of the le- IOO IIO

ver and sound the alarm upon turning the handle-bar, and a brake mechanism set by turning the handle-bar, substantially as set forth.

10. In abicycle or like machine, the combination with a movably-mounted handle-bar, an alarm, a brake, connections between the handle-bar and the brake for setting the latter, and an alarm-actuating mechanism supported independently of the brake mechanism and operable by the handle without setting the brake.

11. In combination, a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stem, a rod slidably mounted in the stem and bearing abrakeshoe, a lever mounted upon a fixed horizontal fulcrum and having its terminal portions connected with the rod and handle-bar, and a spring acting upon the rod and handle-bar in opposite directions to hold the brake out of action and admit of the handle-bar moving to take up jar and jolt, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination, a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to its stem alining rods, the one having connection with the handlebar and the othencarrying a brake-shoe, a lever mounted upon `a fixed horizontal fulcrum near one end thereof, links connecting the terminals of the lever with the contiguous ends of the alining rods, and a spring exerting a pressure upon one of the rods and servin g to hold the brake-shoe out of action and admit of the handle-bar taking up jar and jolt, substantially as set forth.

13. In combination, a handle-bar mounted to turn with respect to its stem, alining rods, the one having connection with the handlebar and the other carrying a brake-shoe, le-

vers placed side by side and mounted upon fixed horizontal fulcrums near their opposite ends, links connecting the short arms of the levers with the rod connected with the handle-bar, other links connectingr the long arms of the levers with the rod carrying a brakeshoe, and a spring exerting a force upon one of the rodsto hold the brake-shoe out of action and admit of the handle-bar moving to compensate for jar and jolt; substantially as set forth.

14:'. In combination, a stem, a handle-bar mounted to turn with reference to the-stem, a springactuated rod operatively connected with the handle-bar to admit of it moving to take up jar, a bifurcated block secured within the stem and having a guide-opening in one end, levers fulcrumed near their opposite ends in the space formed between the separated parts of the block, a second rod in line with the spring-actuated rod and workin g through the guide-opening in the block, and links connecting the opposite terminals of the levers with the contiguous ends of the said rods, substantially as set forth.

15. In combination, a stem, a handle-bar rotatably mounted in the stem, a rod carrying a brake-shoe, and movable within said stem, a

second rod composed of upper and lower parts adapted to be lengthened and shortened, toggle-levers connecting the lower part of the adj ustable rod with the rod bearing the brakeshoe, a spring mounted upon the upper portion ofthe adjustable rod, and means for regulating the tension of said spring to increase or decrease the resist-ance to the movement of the handle-bar when compensating for jar, substantially as set forth.

16. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination with a movably-mounted handle-bar having two successive stages of action, a brake, an alarm, and means connected with and operated by the movement of said handie-bar on said first stage of action for sounding said alarm and on its second stage of action for setting the brake, whereby said alarm can be sounded without setting the brake, substantially as described.

17. In a bicycle or the like, the combination ofV a rod bearing a brake-shoe, a second rod in line with the "iirst-mentioned rod and capable of being lengthened and shortened, a lever fulcrumed near one end to the stem, links connecting the arms of the lever with the aforesaid rods to cause them to move in opposite directions at different rates of speed, a springexerting a downward pressure upon the .upper or second rod, a handle-bar mounted to turn and having a projecting part, and a bell-cran k lever havin g link connection withy the springactuated rod and projecting part of the handle-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1S. In a bicycle or the like, the combination of a head-lug, a shaft mounted to turn in the head-lug and having threaded and milled or roughened portions at the sides of the headlug, handle-bar sections mounted upon the end portions of the shaft and adapted to be turned to any angular adjustment and having their inner ends split, internally roughened to match with the milled or roughened portions of the shaft, and exteriorly threaded, and clamp-nuts mounted upon the inner end portions of the handle-bar sections to secure them in an adjusted position and to the aforesaid shaft, substantially as set forth.

19. In a bicycle or the like, the combination of a shaft mounted to turn in the head-lug, handle-bar sections having adjustable connection with the end portions of the shaft to be moved to any desired position, a bell clamped to the handle-bar and having the projecting end of its lever extending within the path of a trip provided on the head-lug, a rod having detachable connection with the aforesaid shaft, a spring-actuated rod located Within the handle-bar stem, a bell-crank lever having its members connected respectively with the spring-actuated rod and the projecting end of the rod connected with the handle-bar, a rod bearing a brake-shoe, an extensible connection between the spring-actuated rod and the rod bearing the brake- ICO IIO

shoe to admit of the handle-bar being raised.' In testimony that I claim theforegoiug as or lowered, levers fulcrumed near one end my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 1o and disposed in parallel relation, mounted the presence of two witnesses. upon fixed horizontal fulex'ums, and links eonl,

5 meeting the arms of the 'levers with the upper WILLIAM M' SWEET' andlower rods, whereby the latter receive a VVitnesses: differential movement, substantially as and P. H. CONLEY, for the purpose set forth, LILLIAN BLAISDELL. 

